RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Austin Destination Guide Austin Destination Guide Beverages ................................ 1 Good Eats: Healthy .................. 6 Entertainment ........................... 2 Good Eats: Indian .................... 7 Exercise.................................... 3 Good Eats: Italian .................... 7 Fun Stuff To Do ........................ 4 Good Eats: Mexican................. 7 Good Eats: BBQ ....................... 4 Good Eats: Pizza ..................... 8 Good Eats: Burgers .................. 5 Good Eats: Sausage ................ 9 Good Eats: Cajun ..................... 6 Good Eats: Seafood ................ 9 Good Eats: Eclectic .................. 6 Good Eats: Sweets .................. 9 Good Eats: French ................... 6 Good Eats: Variety ................. 10 Beverages Alta's Café 74 Trinity Street, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 499-0470 | altascafe.com Fun coffee shop located on the lake, just a short walk from downtown. They also have breakfast tacos, sandwiches, smoothies, and desserts. You can sit outside and enjoy the view of the lake. Blue Owl Brewing 2400 E. Cesar Chavez #300, Austin, TX 78702 (512) 593-1262 | blueowlbrewing.com This brewery specializes in sour-mashed beers in a variety of styles & flavors that have a nice, clean finish. These sours have wide appeal and it's a great place to experiment. - Dave Spillar, Compliance Subrecipient Monitor Easy Tiger 709 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 614-4972 | easytigeraustin.com Spacious patio on the banks of Waller Creek downtown. Features over 40 craft beers & fine whiskeys and a bakery. Specializes in fresh pretzels, artisan sausages, charcuterie boards, and sandwiches with homemade buns. - Dave Spillar, Compliance Subrecipient Monitor Hops & Grain Brewing 507 Calles #101, Austin, TX 78702 (512) 914-2467 | hopsandgrain.com An acclaimed local brewery, now expanding to San Marcos as well. The tap room offers a variety of styles and always has interesting small experimental batches to taste onsite. - Dave Spillar, Compliance Subrecipient Monitor Lazarus Brewing 1902 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78702 (512) 394-7620 | lazarusbrewing.com This place has all of the core essentials: a variety of beers (on tap/in bomber bottles to-go), a very nice taco selection, and it's a gourmet coffee shop. All can be enjoyed inside or out on the patio. - Dave Spillar, Compliance Subrecipient Monitor Still Austin Whiskey Co. 440 E. St. Elmo Road, Austin, TX 78745 (512) 276-2700 | stillaustin.com Austin's own whiskey distillery. You can tour, do taste testing, or just enjoy their handcrafted spirits sitting outside in their thoughtful space. I'm not a big whiskey drinker but I was blown away by their cocktails and now I'm a convert. I highly recommend their whiskey lemonades. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. - Lindsay Marsh, TDHCA Performance Specialist, HOME and Homelessness Programs Page 1 of 10 Austin Destination Guide Texas Reds and Whites Tasting 407 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701 (737) 703-5540 | texasredsandwhites.com Texas Hill Country wine production has exploded over the past two and a half decades. Texas Reds and Whites Tasting Room offers wines from across the state for your enjoyment. The inside looks like an embellishment of Texas and the Tasting Room will let you try different flavors from across the state. - John Tomme, Senior Financial Analyst Zilker Brewing 1701 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78702 (512) 765-4946 | zilkerbeer.com Popular local brewery with a variety of options, sizable patio with picnic table seating, and the Hot Mess food truck (hotmessatx.com). - Dave Spillar, Compliance Subrecipient Monitor Entertainment Antone's 305 E. 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 814-0361 | ntonesnightclub.com The venerable Austin favorite music venue & world-famous blues club (so much history!) has occupied various addresses over the years but the quality of bands has never wavered from upper-echelon. Now featuing a variety of genres from touring and local acts in the heart of downtown Austin. - Dave Spillar, Compliance Subrecipient Monitor Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 442-6189 | brokenspokeaustintx.net A Texas dance hall featuring live music & boot-scootin', and has served beer and chicken-fried steak since 1964. - Jill McFarren, Communications and Marketing Advisor Continental Club 1315 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 441-2444 | continentalclub.com The Continental Club is a slice of the old Austin music scene. - Tim Irvine, Executive Director Esther's Follies 525 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 320-0553 | esthersfollies.com Witty political satire, comedy sketches, Vegas-style magic, and hilarious musical numbers. - Jill McFarren, Communications and Marketing Advisor Live music Multiple, Austin, TX 78701 It’s cliché I know, but this conference is happening during the second week of Austin City Limits (ACL). If you aren’t able to come early and enjoy the festival, don’t worry, check out some of the local venues like Stubb’s, Antone’s, Emo’s, The Elephant Room, or The Continental Club to support some of the local musicians. - John Tomme, Senior Financial Analyst Paramount & Stateside Theatres 713 Congress & 719 Congress, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 472-5470 | austintheatre.org These historic and adjacent venues host many fantastic events, plays, concerts, films, comedy, speeches, etc. Check the calendar! - Dave Spillar, Compliance Subrecipient Monitor Page 2 of 10 Austin Destination Guide Rainey Street Rainey Street, Austin, TX 78701 There are so many entertainment districts in Austin it’s hard to remember which one is in vogue with the locals now. Rainey Street definitely still is. Whether its trendy bars like Geraldine’s at the Hotel Van Zandt or Container Bar, local favorites like the Lustre Pearl Rainey, or entertaining you inner beer nerd at Banger’s or Craft Pride, this place has it all and then some. - John Tomme, Senior Financial Analyst Saxon Pub 1320 S. Lamar, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 448-2552 | thesaxonpub.com Classic Austin joint hosting the best of local bands and Americana-style touring shows. If they play here, they are good. - Dave Spillar, Compliance Subrecipient Monitor The Parish 214 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701 theparishaustin.com Austin is the live music capital, but where do you go? This open floor plan, standing venue has THE best sound in the city and a nicely elevated stage. Every genre of band plays here, but I often get a ticket for a band I don't know because I know it'll be good. - Dave Spillar, Compliance Subrecipient Monitor Exercise Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail (The Hike and Bike Trail) Around the Lake, Austin, TX 78701 www.austintexas.gov/department/ann-and-roy-butler-hike-and-bike-trail Get a little exercise if the weather is cooperating. The Hike and Bike trail runs on both sides of the lake/river from West Austin to East Austin. - John Tomme, Senior Financial Analyst Lady Bird Lake (Formerly Town Lake) Austin, TX 78701 Go paddle boarding or kayaking at the “Rowing Dock” or “Texas Rowing Center” on the lake if you’re looking for some exercise or want to enjoy some more summer activities before winter sets in. I personally recommend going towards the dam and away from downtown if you want a less crowded experience. - John Tomme, Senior Financial Analyst Lady Bird Lake and Zilker Metropolitan Park Austin, TX 78701 zilkerpark.org Lady Bird Lake is a river-like reservoir on the Colorado River and Zilker Metropolitan Park is considered "Austin's most-loved park." Rogue Running 410 Pressler Street, Austin, TX 78703 (512) 373-8704 | roguerunning.com Do you enjoy running, but hate doing it by yourself? Are you training for a big race, but NCSHA might be cramping your training regimen? Check out Rogue Running. Whether your training for a 5k a marathon or an ultra, they have the classes going on just about nightly. Just call ahead to see if the trainer can accommodate your needs. - John Tomme, Senior Financial Analyst Page 3 of 10 Austin Destination Guide Fun Stuff To Do Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum 1800 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 936-8746 | thestoryoftexas.com Are you a history buff? Do you like seeing IMAX movies? Or are you just curious about why Texans want to talk about Texas so much? Check out the state history museum of Texas and learn about everything from the European colonization of Texas to the modern day. - John Tomme, Senior Financial Analyst South Congress Bridge Bats 100 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701 batsinaustin.com Watching the Congress Avenue bridge bat colony take off at twilight is breathtaking. Mexican free-tailed bats emerge and shoot out for their nightly feeding and aerial show every evening between 7 and 8 p.m. If you need liquid fortitude for a bat encounter, I recommend the bar at the Four Seasons. Their restaurant is also pretty fine. It’s all kind of pricey but if done in moderation is worthwhile for the view and the people watching! - Tim Irvine, Executive Director Texas State Capitol 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 305-8400 | tspb.texas.gov The Texas State Capitol, completed in 1888 in Downtown Austin, contains the offices and chambers of the Texas Legislature and the Office of the Governor. Texas State Cemetary 909 Navasota Street, Austin, TX 78702 (512) 463-0605 | tspb.texas.gov Founded in 1851, the Texas State Cemetery is the final resting place of Texas' most notable sons and daughters, including Stephen F. Austin and Barbara Jordan. The 'Drag', Austin, TX 78701 If you want to get a taste of the “40 Acres” and, perhaps, pick up some nice Texas Longhorns swag, The “Drag” is for you. It’s a strip of stores and eateries across from UT on Guadalupe Street between Martin th Luther King, Jr., and 29 streets. You’ll be here on a game weekend (Texas hosts the Baylor Bears), so the people watching and action on the drag will be primo! - Tim Irvine, Executive Director Good Eats: BBQ Blacks BBQ 3110 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78705 (512) 524-0801 | blacksbbq.comaustin Acclaimed barbecue family offers brisket, ribs, sides, and craft beers in a relaxed, wood-decked space.